The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/131836
The Press-Dispatch B-3 Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Lady Chargers win two, lose two tough ones By Mike Johansen After two big wins to start the week, the Pike Central Lady Chargers softball team ended the regular season with a couple of tough losses. Stephanie Richardson had a no hitter in game two. The Lady Chargers started the week beating Sectional rival Jasper in a non-conference game 6-5, after falling behind 4-3 early in the game. The Lady Chargers opened at home and gave up three runs to the Jasper Lady Wildcats in the top of the first inning with one hit batter, an error, a walk and two singles that scored three runs. The Lady Chargers evened the score in the bottom of the first on a hit, a walk, fielders choice error and a home run by Lauren Morton to account for all three scores. Jasper scored a run in the top of the second to take a lead that lasted until the third and fourth innings. The Lady Chargers tied the game in the third, as Taylor Stuessel was safe on a fielders choice, advanced on a hit by Morton and scored on a hit by Jordan Like. The inning ended with runners on second and third. The first lead run came in the bottom of the fourth frame, as Alyx Abbott was safe on a fielders choice that recorded the second out of the inning. She scored on a Stephanie Richardson double for a 5-4 PC lead. The Lady Chargers added a clinching run in the bottom of the sixth, as Olivia Whann was hit by a pitch, advanced on an Emma Crow sacrifice bunt and scored on an error that put Abbott on base. The threat ended there. Jasper used an error and a hit in the top of the seventh to score a run, but a fly out and ground out ended the threat and left PC winning by a run. Ashli Riley was the winning pitcher, allowing five runs on seven hits, two PC errors. Lauren Morton was the catcher. Stephanie Richardson had a double and a single; Lauren Morton a home run with two on and a single; Ashley Abbott a single; Jordan Like a single and Emma Crow a single. The second win of the week came on the road as the Lady Chargers downed the Tell City Lady Marksmen 10-0 in Pocket Athletic Conference play. Richardson picked up the win on the mound, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out five. The Lady Chargers scored most of the runs in the sixth inning to win on the 10-run rule. Pike Central had just one walk in the first two innings. The Lady Chargers scored their first run in the third, as Presley Bryant singled and scored on a double by Richardson. Another walk in the fourth went for naught. Bryant scored again in the fifth frame as she singled, advanced on a single by Richardson and scored on a single by Stuessel. The big difference was eight runs crossing the plate in the top of the sixth. Samantha Halbrader started it all with a walk. An out later, Whann singled and Crow doubled in two runs. Abbott singled, Richardson walked and Stuessel singled in two runs. Morton tripled in two runs. Halbrader walked, Like walked and Whann tripled in three runs for the 10-0 lead. Tell City had two walks in the bottom of the sixth, but they were left standing to end the game. Halbrader had two walks and two runs; Like three walks and a run; Richardson a single and a double with a run scored; Abbott a single and a run; Stuessel two singles and two RBIs; Morton a triple and two RBIs; Whann a single, triple and three RBIs; Crow a double and two RBIs; and Bryant two singles and two runs scored. Thursday's home game was Senior Night for Jordan Like, Ashli Riley, Lexie Shoultz and Taylor Stuessel. After the celebration, the game did not go quite as well, as Evansville Harrison prevailed 6-1 on three runs in the second inning, one in the third and two in the sixth. Pike Central had just one run in the fourth frame, as Riley scored after singling. A single by Bryant sent in the run. Riley was the pitcher, with Samantha Halbrader in relief in the seventh. Abbott had two singles; Richardson two singles; Riley a single and a run; and Bryant a single and an RBI. A three run home run by Eberhard proved to be the difference as the Gibson Southern Lady Titans beat the Lady Chargers 6-4 in the final regular season game at Gibson Southern Friday night. Gibson Southern won the PAC title with the win, with a 7-1 record by virtue of beating Heritage Hills, also with a 7-1 record. PC ended the regular season 4-4 in the PAC and 10-8 overall. They were to play Vincennes Lincoln Tuesday night in the Sectional, depending on the weather. In the opening round of the Sectional 31 Tournament in Jasper, Heritage Hills beat Washington 5-0 and Jasper downed Mitchell 12-0. Those two played in game one Tuesday and PC went against Vincennes Lincoln in game two. The finals are at 7 p.m. tonight, depending on weather. The Lady Chargers grabbed the upper hand early in the game pushing across one run in the opening inning. Abbott started the offense with a single by the shortstop and she advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Richardson. An error allowed Morton to reach base and Abbott to score the first run in the first inning. The Lady Titans had a hit and tried to steal second, but Morton threw out the runner in the bottom of the first. The Lady Chargers took a commanding lead in the top of the second, sending three runs across home plate. Jordan Like started the run with a single and advanced on the first out. Crow singled her to third and she scored on a fielders choice play. Abbott was safe on an error, Richardson walked and a single by Taylor Stuessel helped score the final two runs for a 4-0 lead over the league-leading team. In the third frame, Halbrader had a hit and made it to second, before a ground out ended the inning. A Richardson single in the fourth went for naught. Pike Central went down in order in the fifth and sixth frames. Gibson Southern scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth on a double and a single. They put in two more runs in the sixth and got two on base, but Pike Central came up with two outs. Eberhard hit the three run homer with two out to give Gibson Southern the lead 6-4. In the top of the seventh, PC's first two hitters grounded out. Morton walked and made it to second on a walk to Halbrader, but a grounder to second, and a play at second for an easy out, ended the last hope for the Lady Chargers. Richardson was the losing pitcher, giving up six runs on nine hits, two hit batters and a walk. She struck out four. Abbott had two singles; Crow two; and one single each for Richardson, Stuessel, Halbrader and Like. Chargers rally to top Boonville, lose a pair By Mike Johansen The Pike Central Chargers celebrated Senior Day and the end of the regular season by rallying from a 1-0 deficit to a 5-0 win over the Boonville Pioneers to finish with an 8-12 record. Early in the week the baseball team lost at South Spencer 6-2. Friday night the Charger baseball crew lost a rescheduled game to Heritage Hills 13-5. The game was tied going into the top of the seventh when the Patriots scored 8 unanswered runs. The PC Charger Baseball team pushed across five unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday to close out the regular season and Senior Day with a win over Boonville, 5-1. Bailey White picked up the complete game victory. Prior to the game the teams seniors were honored including: Maverick Henson, Jeff Estey, Brady Like, Jacob Western, Trevor Claridge and stat girl Samantha Baumgart. Boonville scored one run in the top of the second inning to lead until the bottom of the sixth. The Chargers had Jeffrey Estey single and move around to second. He scored on an error. The Chargers got another runner on base and then a grounder was mishandled and a throw to first for a final out was wild. A player tried to score and the infielder for Boonville threw to the plate, but no one was there to catch it. When the dust finally settled PC had a 5-1 lead, all unearned runs, and White shut them off in the top of the seventh for the win. The Chargers will enter sectional play with a record of 8-12, 0-8 in the PAC. The Chargers won just six games a year ago. The Chargers play next in the sectional at Jasper on Memorial Day at 1 p.m. with a chance for some revenge against Heritage Hills. The winner advances to the Sectional finals that evening at 7:30 p.m. Shoultz signs with Lincoln Trail Pike Central High School senior Lexie Shoultz signed a Letter of Intent to play softball at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill. She was joined in the ceremony by (l to r): her mother, Jackie Shoultz, Lexie, father, Roy Shoultz and sister, Jana Atkins. In back: Athletic Director Roger Stuckey, Assistant Softball Coach Dusty Cooper, Lincoln Trail Head Coach Ashley Gordon, Pike Central Head Softball Coach Rick Weisman and Pike Central Assistant Principal Kyle Runyan. Like signs with Lincoln Trail Pike Central High School senior Jordan Like has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Lincoln Trail College starting next year. The signing ceremony was held recently at PCHS. Attending the ceremony, front from left, are: Todd Davis, Joah Britton, Linton Trail Coach Scott Sparks, Jordan Like, Lincoln Trail Coach Azia Bass and Brady Like. In back are PCHS Athletic Director Roger Stuckey, PCHS Assistant Coach Valarie White, Bill Like, Jody Davis, Stu Oberg, PCHS Head Coach Randy Graham and PCHS Assistant Principal Kyle Runyan. Mason to run at OCU Tanner Mason signed a letter of intent to run cross country at Oakland City University beginning next fall. Mason was joined by his coaches for the signing. With Mason for the ceremony are (l to r): Tanner and Sabrina Mason. In back: coaches Steve Wilson, Randy Graham and Jessica Manges. Manges is the new head coach for boys' and girls' cross country and Wilson will again be the assistant coach. Paperwork and physicals a must Student-athletes at Pike Central High school who plan on participating in summer activities are reminded that they need to have a physical and all paperwork done soon. The message to athletes and parents is: "Please PC law that takes liability away from the school. Athletes will be forbidden to participate until these papers are on file. Contact the high school athletic office for information or to have questions answered. 2013 pikecentral charger baseball Seniors Jeffrey Estey Jacob Western best of luck in Trevor Claridge made it safely to second base, but slid past and had to reach his leg back to make sure he was safe. Pike Central beat Boonville to end the regular season. Athletes and parents . . . all players who condition or play a school-sponsored sport must have a 2013-14 physical and concussion form on file in the athletic secretaries office prior to the beginning of the summer. This is a new state Trevor Claridge Brady Like Maverick Henson sectionals THanks for THE MEMoriEs!